2-Tier Hanger Rack

Dimensions

Cut list

Tools you'll need

• ✓

  Measuring Tape (5m or longer)

  Used for measuring all parts.

• ✓

  Pencil and Carpenter's Square

  Used for marking lines and verifying right angles.

• ✓

  Saw

  Using a home center cutting service is recommended.

• ✓

  Electric Screwdriver

  Using an impact driver improves work efficiency.

• ✓

  Sandpaper

  Prepare two kinds: #120 and #240.

• ✓

  Level

  Essential for checking horizontality during assembly.

• ✓

  Clamps (2 or more)

  Used for temporary fixing during joining.

• ✓

  Brush and Paint Tray

  Used for finishing with oil or varnish.

Materials

Build steps

1. 1

   Final Confirmation of Materials and Tools

   ≈ 15 min

   Prepare two side boards of SPF lumber 1x10 (19×400×1700mm), six shelf boards (19×400×1000mm), one plywood back panel (4mm thick, 1000×1700mm), forty 38mm coarse-thread screws, and four 50mm L-brackets. Tools include electric screwdriver, saw, measuring tape, carpenter's square, #120/#240 sandpaper, level, two F-type clamps, brush and paint tray, and a stapler or thin nails.

   Measure

   W 1000 mm

   MeasureSTEP 1 / 20

   Tip

   • SPF lumber tends to warp. When purchasing, visually check each board for warping and select pieces warped less than 1mm.
   • L-brackets and screws are lifelines for tipping prevention. Do not omit them under any circumstances.

   Watch out

   • Check each SPF board individually for warping, cracking, and knots before purchase. Using boards warped more than 1mm will cause shelves to distort.
   • The 4mm plywood back panel is thin and prone to bending or breaking during handling. After cutting, store it upright immediately.
2. 2

   Securing the Workspace

   ≈ 10 min

   Prepare a space where you can set up the bookshelf standing at 1700mm high. A ceiling height of at least 2200mm and floor space approximately 1500×1200mm provide ample room. Spread a blue sheet and support long boards with two sawhorses.

   Inspect

   No wobble ✓

   InspectSTEP 2 / 20

   Tip

   • Assembly is done lying flat on the floor; standing the unit upright is the final step. It can be done even in small rooms.

   Watch out

   • It is difficult for one person to stand up the assembled bookshelf alone. Two-person work is safer.
   • If ceiling height is less than 2000mm, the top may hit the ceiling when standing the bookshelf up. Confirm beforehand.
3. 3

   Creating Cut List and Placing Cutting Order

   ≈ 20 min

   Submit a cut list to the home center for two side boards (1700mm), six shelf boards (1000mm), and one back panel (1000×1700mm). If cutting yourself, support long boards (1700mm) with two sawhorses and cut by pulling the saw. Aim for cutting errors within ±2mm.

   Cut

   Use the in-store cut service

   CutSTEP 3 / 20

   Tip

   • Cutting cost is 30-50 yen per cut; for all cuts, expect about 1000 yen and reduce cutting time from 30 minutes to immediate.
   • Since all six shelf boards share the same dimension, bundling them for a single cut yields the highest accuracy.

   Watch out

   • 19mm thick SPF lumber tend to warp even with straight cutting. Use a guide to cut straight.
   • The 4mm plywood is soft and will deform if unsupported below during cutting.
4. 4

   Sanding All Materials (#120 then #240)

   ≈ 40 min

   Sand all parts first with #120, then finish with #240 sandpaper. Particularly sand side boards' shelf receiving surfaces, both surfaces and edges of shelf boards. Rounding shelf edges where hands touch improves usability. After sanding, vacuum to remove all sawdust.

   Sand

   #120

   SandSTEP 4 / 20

   Tip

   • A finely smooth shelf surface makes inserting and removing books easier.
   • Edges (cut ends) have raised fibers; sand these carefully starting with #120.

   Watch out

   • SPF lumber is soft; over-sanding distorts dimensions. Use #120 primarily and #240 only for finishing.
   • If corners are too rounded, the appearance looks bulky. Limit radius to about 2mm.
5. 5

   Marking Shelf Positions on Side Boards

   ≈ 15 min

   Place both side boards side by side and pencil mark positions for fixing six shelf boards. Shelf spacing can be 300mm per tier from bottom upward (total 1800mm) or with wider spacing near top for decorations per design. Ensure left and right side boards have exactly matching marks by marking them together.

   Mark a line

   Use a try square

   MarkSTEP 5 / 20

   Tip

   • Clamp the two side boards together before marking to ensure shelf positions perfectly align on both sides.
   • Use sizes A4 (297mm height), A5 (210mm), and bunko (150mm) as references for shelf gap design to ease storage.

   Watch out

   • If left and right shelf positions are misaligned, the shelves will tilt. Mark both boards together while clamped.
   • Forget to account for the 19mm thickness of shelf boards when calculating spacing, resulting in narrower actual gaps.
6. 6

   Preparing Pilot Holes

   ≈ 20 min

   Drill 3mm diameter pilot holes at the marked shelf positions. Holes are drilled from side boards' outside toward the shelf board edges, passing through the side board (19mm) and entering 10mm into the shelf board (total 29mm depth). Use masking tape on drill bit to mark depth.

   Drill a hole

   下穴 φ3.5mm

   DrillSTEP 6 / 20

   Tip

   • 3mm pilot holes correspond to 70% of the 4.2mm shaft diameter of 38mm coarse-thread screws; this prevents wood splitting reliably.
   • Each shelf uses two pilot holes per side board, i.e. 4 per shelf, total 24 holes for 6 shelves. Check carefully to avoid omissions.

   Watch out

   • Insufficient pilot hole depth causes screws not to fully embed; drill slightly deeper to be safe.
   • Avoid drilling all way through the shelf board backside; use tape to limit drill depth.
7. 7

   Temporarily Fixing Shelf Boards to One Side Board

   ≈ 20 min

   Place one side board flat on the floor and position six shelf boards upright at marked locations. Use F-type clamps for temporary fixing and verify the right angle between side board and shelf boards with a carpenter's square. Where square insertion is impossible, visually confirm alignment.

   Build the frame

   Check for square

   AssembleSTEP 7 / 20

   Tip

   • Start fixing shelves from bottom up to maintain stability.
   • One clamp per shelf board is needed; having six clamps eases work. If fewer, clamp and progress sequentially.

   Watch out

   • Incorrect right angles cause the whole assembly to become a parallelogram. Always check with square.
   • If shelf boards protrude beyond side board edges, the back panel cannot be attached properly later.
8. 8

   Driving Screws on One Side

   ≈ 15 min

   Drive 38mm coarse-thread screws through pilot holes from side board outside into shelf board edges, two screws per attachment point, totaling 12 screws for 6 shelves. Screw heads should be flush or recessed 0.5mm into side boards. Use medium torque on impact driver and finish tightening by hand with a quarter turn.

   Drive screws

   コーススレッド 51mm

   ScrewSTEP 8 / 20

   Tip

   • Offset the two screws slightly vertically for improved withdrawal resistance.
   • If screw heads are conspicuous, optional wood dowels can fill holes later for concealment.

   Watch out

   • Over-tightening screws can split the 19mm SPF lumber edges; use medium torque.
   • If screws go in crooked and protrude out the other side, remove, fill with wood filler, and re-screw at another position.
9. 9

   Preparation for Opposite Side Board Attachment

   ≈ 15 min

   Stand the unit with shelves fixed to one side. Place the other side board aligned to shelf end markings on the opposite side and clamp temporarily. Perform right angle verification while the assembly stands vertically.

   Build the frame

   Check for square

   AssembleSTEP 9 / 20

   Tip

   • This step is recommended for two people: one supports, and the other clamps to achieve accuracy.
   • The opposite side board's markings were made initially and should not be redrawn.

   Watch out

   • Attempting this alone risks shelf boards falling and damaging the floor. Always work with two people or lean the assembly against a wall.
10. 10

    Driving Screws on Opposite Side

    ≈ 15 min

    Drive 38mm coarse-thread screws through pilot holes from the other side board outside into shelf board edges, two screws per position, totaling 12 screws. This completes fixing the side boards and the six shelf boards, forming the main bookshelf structure.

    Drive screws

    コーススレッド 51mm

    ScrewSTEP 10 / 20

    Tip

    • After fixing both sides, check the level of all shelf boards; if any tilt, loosen screws and adjust.

    Watch out

    • Driving screws simultaneously on both sides causes distortion. Fix all screws on one side first, then proceed to the other.
11. 11

    Checking Overall Level and Diagonal Measurements

    ≈ 15 min

    Place the assembled unit on the floor. Use a level to check horizontality of each shelf board. From the front, measure both diagonal lengths (top-left to bottom-right and top-right to bottom-left) with a tape measure; the difference must be within 5mm. If distorted, loosen clamps, adjust, and add screws as needed.

    Check level

    Level ✓

    LevelSTEP 11 / 20

    Tip

    • A diagonal difference exceeding 5mm indicates a parallelogram distortion. Correct before attaching the back panel.
    • The back panel increases rigidity. Correct any distortion prior to its attachment.

    Watch out

    • Shelving sag (center bowing downward) worsens under book weight. For shelf length 600mm, allowable; lengths over 1000mm require reinforcement consideration.
12. 12

    Preparation for Back Panel Attachment

    ≈ 10 min

    Position the 4mm plywood back panel against the bookshelf rear, aligning all four corners. Verify diagonal lengths match the unit to perform final distortion correction by the panel. Once positioned, lightly secure the back panel and bookshelf with masking tape.

    Build the frame

    Check for square

    AssembleSTEP 12 / 20

    Tip

    • The back panel is critical for reducing distortion. Slightly skewed attachment reduces rigidity.
    • The 4mm plywood can be easily fastened with a stapler. If using thin nails, pre-drill pilot holes.

    Watch out

    • If the back panel is larger than the unit, trim overhanging parts.
    • If smaller, distribute gaps evenly up to 5mm at the edges.
13. 13

    Stapling the Back Panel

    ≈ 20 min

    Secure the back panel to side boards and shelf boards using a stapler (15mm staples) or thin nails. Space staples 100-150mm apart around all edges and at shelf board positions. Start at corners and proceed diagonally to reduce distortion.

    Drive screws

    コーススレッド 51mm

    ScrewSTEP 13 / 20

    Tip

    • Staplers costing 1500-2500 yen at home centers are much faster than nails and worth the investment for bookshelf assembly.
    • Mark shelf board positions with pencil on the back before stapling to avoid missing fixation points.

    Watch out

    • Staples protruding inside the unit can damage books. 15mm length staples are suitable for 19mm thickness.
    • Attach staples not only along the four edges but also at shelf board locations to prevent gaps from sagging.
14. 14

    Preparation for L-Bracket Attachment

    ≈ 15 min

    Attach four 50mm L-brackets to the rear top of the unit, two on each side. One side attaches to the bookshelf top edge, the other to be fixed to the wall. Confirm wall stud positions using a stud sensor in advance.

    Fix to the wall

    Anchor to studs

    Wall mountSTEP 14 / 20

    Tip

    • Stud sensors from discount stores have low accuracy; home center models (1000-2000 yen) are recommended.
    • Studs are typically spaced at 455mm intervals. Once one is located, estimating others is easier.

    Watch out

    • Simply fixing to drywall is insufficient for tipping prevention; brackets must be attached to studs.
    • If bracket positions don't align with studs, adjust brackets horizontally so screws hit stud centers.
15. 15

    Attaching L-Brackets to Bookshelf Side Boards

    ≈ 10 min

    Attach all four L-brackets to the outside of the bookshelf side boards at the top, driving coarse-thread screws (38mm) into the bracket screw holes. Fix brackets flush or within 5mm of side board surfaces, ensuring they protrude perpendicular to the wall.

    Drive screws

    コーススレッド 51mm

    ScrewSTEP 15 / 20

    Tip

    • Ensure brackets are oriented with the bent part facing the wall and screw holes facing the bookshelf.

    Watch out

    • Improper bracket alignment causes gaps between bracket and wall upon fixing. Use a level to verify.
16. 16

    Installing the Bookshelf and Wall Fixing

    ≈ 20 min

    Move the bookshelf to the placement location upright (recommended two people). Place flush against the wall and drive longer screws (45-50mm coarse-thread screws), suitable for studs, through L-bracket holes into the wall studs at four locations to complete tipping prevention.

    Fix to the wall

    Anchor to studs

    Wall mountSTEP 16 / 20

    Tip

    • 38mm screws are too short for wall fixing; use 45-50mm screws that reach studs.
    • Wall fixing is the most critical step for the bookshelf to prevent injuries or fatal accidents during earthquakes; do not skimp.

    Watch out

    • Drywall anchors alone do not provide enough strength; always screw into studs.
    • If there is a gap larger than 5mm between bookshelf and wall, insert shims before fixing; unsecured gaps disable bracket effectiveness.
17. 17

    Cleaning Before Painting

    ≈ 10 min

    Clean the entire bookshelf by vacuuming and wiping with a dry cloth to remove all sawdust, oils, and fingerprints. Cleaning quality greatly affects finishing. Optionally, mask the plywood back panel beforehand as it absorbs paint quickly.

    Inspect

    No wobble ✓

    InspectSTEP 17 / 20

    Tip

    • Perform wiping in the sequence: dry wipe → damp wipe → dry wipe for best results.

    Watch out

    • Remaining sawdust causes a rough painted surface. Use lighting to inspect.
18. 18

    First Application of Oil Stain

    ≈ 40 min

    Brush oil stain (e.g., Watco Oil, Kinura) evenly over the entire unit: side board exteriors, shelf board tops, shelf board undersides, then back panel. After 10-15 minutes, wipe off excess with a dry cloth. The first coat uses about 60-70% of total oil quantity due to high absorption.

    Paint

    Watco oil / varnish

    PaintSTEP 18 / 20

    Tip

    • Oil stain application procedure: brush on → wait 10-15 minutes → wipe off excess. Leaving excess causes a sticky residue.
    • Brush width of 30-50mm is ideal for bookshelf work; too wide cannot reach fine areas.

    Watch out

    • Forgetting to wipe off leaves stickiness for over a week; always wipe thoroughly.
    • Plywood back panel absorbs fast and tends to unevenness; apply thinly and wipe carefully.
19. 19

    Second Application of Oil Stain

    ≈ 25 min

    After drying 24 hours from the first coat, apply the second coat using about 33-50% of the initial volume. Wipe off excess after application. Two coats deepen color and enhance protection. Allow complete drying for 24-48 hours.

    Paint

    Watco oil / varnish

    PaintSTEP 19 / 20

    Tip

    • The second coat corrects color unevenness from the first. Apply evenly and thinly across the whole surface.
    • If a darker finish is desired, add a third coat.

    Watch out

    • Never skip wiping off excess on the second coat; thick application causes unevenness.
    • During drying, keep indoors to prevent dust and insects from adhering.
20. 20

    Completion, Starting Use, and Inspection

    ≈ 15 min

    After thorough drying (48 hours), arrange books and start using the bookshelf. Place heavy books on the lower shelves and lighter books on upper shelves for balance and stability. Check screws and L-brackets after one week and tighten if necessary.

    Done!

    Done — nice work!

    DoneSTEP 20 / 20

    Tip

    • Concentrate heavy books (encyclopedias, etc.) on the bottom two shelves; use lighter books (paperbacks, etc.) above.
    • Reapply oil every 3-5 years to restore gloss and protective effects.

    Watch out

    • Placing books immediately after finishing risks oil transfer; dry at least 48 hours.
    • Books absorb moisture; during rainy seasons use a dehumidifier to prevent bookshelf warping from humidity.

Warnings

• ⚠️Drill pilot holes before driving screws to prevent wood splitting.
• ⚠️When fixing to a wall, always locate studs; do not fix only to drywall.

Find more blueprints in this category or store